Gas washing apparatus



Aug. 30, 1932. s. CMCUTLER GAS WASHING APPARATUS Filed Oct; 22, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l K INVENTOR. M 1- Mu ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 30, 1932;"

s. c. CUTLER GAS WASHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 30, 1932. s. c. CUTLER GAS WASHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. M 4,. W

MM W

ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 30, 1932. s.c. CUTLER 1,875,300"

GAS WASHING APPARATUS Filed OGE. 22, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 T I u 1 Q I I i l 1:5 I )5 f H z l I I I INVENTOR. AQUAILUI LMAA W A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 30, 1932 PATENT OFFICE,

SAMUELC. CUTLER, OF MURRAY HILL, NEW JERSEY" GAS wnsn'mo APPARATUS 7 Application filed October. 22,.19263 Serial No. 143,387.

This invention relates to gas washing apparatus. 7

It has heretofore'been proposed, in cleansing air or other gases, to pass the gas through a spray of water produced by centrifugal apparatus, and more particularly, such apparatus has been-used in the purification and cooling of producer gas. Such gases, however, leave the producer at high temperature and in order properly to eliminate the solid impurities and to bring the gasto a conven iently usable temperature, it has been found necessary in practical operation, to pass the gas through a plurality of such units in sequence, and it has been necessary to employ apparatus of quite large size to handle the volume of gas. 7

It has heretofore been proposed to accomplish these results by mounting a plurality of centrifugal units, one above the other, with the centrifugal elements driven by a main shaft, the gas passing through the units in succession and being discharged directly from the one unit into the next;

Difiiculty has been experienced, however, with such apparatus by reason of the fact that the heavy duty required causes the elements to get out of order or to become clogged, and this has made it necessar occasionally, to shut down the plant to disasgtimble the apparatus, and repairthe trou- In accordance with this invention, the apparatus is so constructed that the'movable parts of the spray units maybe independently repaired without discontinuing the process or disassembling the apparatus.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to produce a machine which will produce a thorough contact between the liquid and gas, which :will handle large quantities of gas in an efficient manner and which maybe readily repaired.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts,which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in theclaims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature Fig. ,1.

the top through a discharge orifice Out.

. v 60 Fig. 4 is a section along the lines 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a single unit of the device shown in Fig. 1, on a plane parallel to the paper as for the second,'fourth or sixth stage countingupwardly from the bottom, or perpendicularto the paper as for the third,fifth or seventh stage.

Fig. 6 is a section at right angles to Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through stage one. a

In the drawings the letter A comprises a substantially cylindrical, upright section,

which, in the particular embodiment illustrated, maybe approximately 86 feet high.

The fresh gas-is taken .in at the bottom through a gas inlet marked In, and passes upward successively through a plurality. of

washing apparatus, until it, is discharged at As illustrated, seven such stages or washing apparatus are employed, which are designated by the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 6 and 7 respectively, stage one beingthe bottom stage, and being the one which first encounters the gas to be washed.

I These different stages are generally similar, each comprising a centrifugal pump lOmount ed for rotation about a vertical shaft 11, and driven by a motor 12, the pump being so designed as to pick up water from a suitable basin 13 and to discharge the same centrifugally and laterally against the walls of the casing A. A cone deflector 14, attached to r the inner walls of the casing, catches the spray after it has reached the walls of the casing, and deflects it inwardly to fall again into the basin 13. As will be seen from Fig.

3, each of the basins 13 has a central circular portion 13a of less diameter than the casing 100 ap'ipe 17, which may leadto a sump 18.

.. scribed.

rest in different horizontal planes, trated, each terminates short of theone above flowing pan has a central openingwith an upturned rim, 13d cooperating with this rim is a cylindrical gate 13g, which may telescopewithin it to raise or lower the effective level of the rim and thereby raise orl'ower' the le vel' of water in the vessel. The overflow from the third stage is discharged to waste through The pan 130 for the first stage, however, is circular and closes the bottom of the casing, and the overflow from it passes into'the sump 18 throughatrap 19. y 7

Each of the stages is substantially alike and for that purpose only one need'be de- The pump comprises generally, a plurality of concentric members of conical-character. As illustrated, five such member'sare provided, designated generally the numerals 21 to 25 respectively. These members are held in a spaced relation by suitable brace 26 to form annular. passageways between them. This set of cones which is herein referred to as the pump is supported by aspider '27, which is. directly carried'up'ontheshaft 11, fitting, as illustrated, upon conical bearing 28 of the said shaft and beingfh'eld in place byanut29. Y In this manner,the pump is maintained in rigid" alignment with the shaft so long as the nut 29 is held firmly: in place, butit may be removed readily when the nut 29 is removed. I I j y The upper edges of the members 21 to 25 As illusit,'so that as the cones are rotated to spray water from their upper edges, as will be hereafter described, each separate conical member forms a separate spray in a plane parallel to,

but spaced from that of each of the other members, so that, with the five cones, five separate planes of spray are provided. The passageways 30, betweenthe cones, are open both at the top and bottom, and atthe bottom extend below the top edge of the basin 13, s0

that when the basin is filled with water, the lower end of each of the passageways 30 is submerged. I prefer to make the lower edge 31 of each cone slightly higher than the lower edge of the next interior cone, so as to ensure that at all times each of the passageways 30 shall have a full supply of water; Each of the shafts 11 is carried by. a vertical journal 32, supported bya plate 33, resting upon a circular base 34 whichin turnis sup ported upon the floor of the tunnel hereinafter described. The shaft 11 carries at its upper end a worm wheel 35, keyed to the shaft as shown at 36 and held in place by anut 37. A thrust ball bearing 38 may be employed to take the weight of the rotating parts,if desired The. plate 33 carries also a journal 39 for a shaft 40, having at one end a worm 11, meshing with the worm wheel and connected to the motor 12, as for example, by a? coupling '42. FExtending through the casing from side to side at each stage is a tuniiel 43- coinprising a top 44 and two side walls lb-45, and having its bottom 46 carried by angle bars at extending from one side to the other of the casing A, This tunnel is of 'sufiicient width and height to permit the plate 33 to be raised abovethe base 34 an amount sufficient to .enable'the pump 10- to be lifted up and carried out of the machine or to-be rein-.- serted therein atwill. Provislon 1s made for centrally supporting the members 47 by a pair wall 41-5, dependant from cross members-5O at the top of the'tunnel. The lower or supporting ends of the angles t9are terminated by brackets =51 which in turn carry an extended-portion 52 of the tunnel floor. The

motor 12is mounted at the floor level within a channel shape basemember 48, its opposite ends-carried by the-members di -47,

With the above construction the fresh gas,

,as shown inFig, 7, cornes;i n laterally from thegasentrance. It passes, through the sheet of water falling from the loweredge'of the lower cone deflector 1e, .and thence passing upwardly between the inner open'ing'of the said cone and the pump, passes through the plurality of laterally directed sprays issuing from the peripheryof .each of the ,conical members. The gas thence passes upwardly to the side of. the basin -13 of the next stage, inwardly through the sheet of water falling from the cone 14 and again through the sprays of the second stage; In

this manner, the gases come into thorough contact with the water, glvlng up their excess ,heat and being freed of their impurities. i It'will be noted; from the descriptiomas upper five stages, however, the water is passed continuously from eath stageto the next, the hottest waterencounteringthe hottest gases, in the third stage, while .the gases about to exit from the machine. andipurified to a large extent, then encounter the cleanest a d coldest-water of vertically disposed angles l9- adjacent each Since certain changesmay be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereoi:',it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense. c

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to. cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of of language might be:.said-to fall therebetween. Y

Having described my; invention,1.what I claim as new and desire to secureby' Letters Patent'is the following:

1. An air washer comprising incombina- .tion, a casing, a plurality of spraying devices within said casing, each having a separate support, means having an access opening to each of said spraying devices, adapted to be closed by the support. I

2. An air washer comprising in combination, a vertical cas1ng,,a plurality of spraying devices, disposed one above another, within said casing, each having a separate support.

'means having an access openingtoeach of said spraying devices, adapted to be closed by the support.

3; An air washer comprising in combina? tion, a casing, a plurality of spraying devices within said casing, each being separately motivated and having a separate support, means having an access opening to each 0f said spraying devices, adapted to be closed by the support.

4. An air washer comprisingin combination, a vertical casing, a plurality of spraying devices disposed one; above another within said casing each being separately motivated and having a separate support, means having an access opening to each of said spraying devices adapted to beclosed by the support. I

5; An air washer comprising in combination a verticalcasing, a plurality of horizon tal tunnels through said casing each having a horizontal support with an opening thereing,

, 7. An air washer comprising in combination, a vertical casing, a plurality of horizon.-

tal tunnels through said casing each having a horizontal support with an opening therein, a self contained spraying device adapted Jolt for insertion in the opening of each of said tunnels, each including an electric motor and a cone pump, insertable through the tunnel and adapted to rest upon said support.

8. An air washer comprising a vertical casing, a plurality of spraying devices superposed one above another in said casing each of said spraying devices being removable from the casing without necessitating disassembly of other apparatus therein, means for introducing fresh water to certain of said spraying devices, means for supplying'other of said devices by water discharged from said first mentioned devices, and means for passing air through said casing in a direction to firstencounterithe sprays employing reused water, and finally to encounter sprays employing fresh water.

- 9. An air washer comprising a verticalcasing, a plurality of sets of sprayingdevices in said casing superposed one above another, each of said devices being removable without disturbing the position of the others, means for introducing fresh water to one washer of each set, means for supplying water to other washers of a-set by water discharged from the fresh water washer, and means for passing airthrough said casing in a direction to last encounter said freshwater washer.

' 10. A gas washer comprising in combination-a vertical casing, a plurality of horizontal tunnels through said casing each having a horizontal support, said support having an opening therethrough, a self'contained centrifugal spraying device adapted for insertion in the opening of each of said tunnels insertable through said tunnel and adapted to rest-upon'said support, a sump pan below each of said spraying devices of less diameter in part than said casing, and an annular deflector attached to the inner .wall of the casingabove andgspaced from each of said pans, and below the discharge of the related spraying device, and having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said pan.

11. A gas washer comprising in combination a vertical casing, a pluralityof horizontal tunnels through said casing each having a horizontal support, said support having an opening therethrough, a self contained centrifugal spraying device adapted for insertion in the opening of each of said tunnels insertable through said tunnel and adapted to rest upon said support, a sump pan below each of said spraying devices of less diameter in part than said casing, and an annular deflector attached to the inner wall of the casing above and'spaced from each of said pans, and below thedi scharge of the related spraying device, and having an inner diameter less than the outer d1ameter of said pan,:certa1n of said panshaving overflow openings of adjustable height, and means operable from the tunnel below for adjusting said height. 12. A gas washer comprising in combination a vertical casing, a plurality of horizontaltunnels through said casing each havinga horizontal support said support having an opening therethrough, a self contained centrifugal spraying device adapted for insertion in the opening of each of said tunnels insertable through said tunnel and adapted to rest upon said support, a sump pan below each of said spraying devices of less diameter in part than said casing, and an annulardeflector attached to the inner wall ofthe casing above and spaced from each of said pans, and below the discharge of the related spraying device, and having an inner diameter lessthan the outer diameter of said pan, certain of said pans having central'overfiow openings'having upturned rims, and cooperating sleeves for adjusting the overflow height, and means operable from the'tunnel below for operating said sleeve.

13. A gas washer comprising in combination a vertical casing, a plurality of horizontal tunnels through said casing-each having, a horizontal support, said support having an opening therethrough, a self con tained centrifugal spraying device adapted for insertion'in the opening of each of said tunnels insertable through said tunnel and adapted to rest upon said support, a sump .pa-n below each of said spraying devices of less diameter in part than said casing, and an annular deflector attached to the inner wall of the casing above and spaced from each of said pans and below the discharge of the related spraying device, and having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said pan, certain of said pans having central overflow openings having up-turned rims, and cooperating sleeves for adjusting the overflow height, means for operating said sleeve and means for receiving said overflow and conducting it to the side of the next lower tunnel and discharging it into the next lower sump pan. 14. A gas washer comprising in combination a vertical casing, a plurality of horizontal tunnels through said casing each having a top and side walls, and a horizontal support, said support having an opening therethrough, a self contained centrifugal spraying device adapted for insertion in the opening of each of said tunnels insertable through said tunnel and adapted to rest upon said support, and adapted to close said-tunnel to the interior of the casing, a sump pan below each of said spraying devices of less diameter in part than said casing, and an annular deflector attached to the inner wall of the casing above and spaced from each of said pans, and below the discharge of the related spraying device,and having aninner diameter less than the outer diameter of said pan, certain of said pans having central overflow openings having upturned rims, and cooperating sleeves for adjusting the overflow height, and means operable from the next lower tunnel for operating said sleeve.

15. A gas washer comprising in combination a vertical casing, a plurality of horizontal tunnels through said casing each having a top and side walls, and a-horizontal support, said support having an opening therethrough, a self contained centrifugal spraying device adapted for insertion in the opening of each of said tunnels insertable through said tunnel and adapted to rest upon said support, and adapted to close said tunnel to the interior of the casing, a sump pan below each of said spraying devices of less diameter in part than said casing, and an annular deflector attached to the inner wall of the casing above and spaced from each of said pans, and-below the discharge of the related spraying device, and having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said pan, certain of said pans having central overflow openings having upturned rims, and cooperating sleeves for adjusting the overflow height, and means operable from the tunnel for operating said sleeve and means for receiving said overflow and conducting it to the side of the next lower tunnel and discharging it into the next lower sump pan.

16. A gaswasher comprising in combination a vertical casing, a plurality of horizontal tunnels through said casingeach having a horizontal support, said support having an opening therethrough, a self contained centrifugal spraying device adapted for insertion in the opening of each of said tunnels insertable through said tunnel and adapted to rest upon said support, comprising a pumping element rotating on a vertical shaft, and a driving motor operating on-a horizontal shaft, a sump pan below each of said spraying devices of less diameter in part than said casing, and an annular deflector attached to the inner wall of the casing above and spaced from each of saidpans, and below the discharge of the related spraying device, and having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said pan.

17. An air washer comprising in combination, a casing, a centrifugal vaporizer mounted on a vertical shaft within said vaporizer, said vaporizer being adapted to be removed from the washer without disassembly, a sump pan within said casing of less diameter in part than said casing to afford apassage for air between said casing and said pan, and an annular deflector carried by said casing ex tending inwardly from said casing above and charge of said vaporizer said deflector hav= ing an innerydiameter less than the outer diameter of said pan. 7

18. An air washer comprisingin combina-. tron, a cas1ng,a centrlfugal vaporlzer mount ed on a vertical shaft within'said vaporizer, saidvaporizer being adapted tolbe'removed from the washer without disassembly, av 19 sump pan within said casingof less diameter in part than said casing to afford a passage for air between said casing and said pan, and an annular deflector carried by said casing extending inwardly from said casing above and spaced from said pan, and below the discharge of said vaporizer said deflector having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said pan, said pan having an overflow opening and means for altermg the.

level of said liquid.

19. Apparatus for treating gases which includes a tower having gas treating compartments, a liquid spraying and recirculating device suspended within each gas compartment, means disposed outside of each gas compartment for supporting the said device, and means to actuate each device independently of the remaining devices.

20. Apparatus for treating gases which in- ,cludes a tower having vertically spaced gastreating compartments and having work passages extending transversely of the tower between adjacent gas-treating compartments, and gas passages disposed withinthe tower ,5 and at the sides of the work passages for interconnecting adjacent compartments for the passage of gas successively through a plurality of compartments.

21. Apparatus for treating gases which comprises a tower having a plurality of interconnected gas-treating compartments spaced vertically apart from each other, and having also a plurality of work passages extending transversely of the tower between the 5- gas-treating compartments, a liquid spray forming device within each compartment and accessible from the adjacent work passage and means for actuating the devices.

22. Apparatus for treating gases which comprises a tower having a plurality of interconnected gas-treating compartments spaced vertically apart from each other and having also a plurality of work passages extending transversely of the tower between the gas compartments, a liquid spray forming device within each compartment, means in the work passage above each said device for suspending the same within its compartment, and means for actuating the devices.

23. Apparatus for treating gases which comprises a tower having a plurality of interconnected gas treating compartments spaced vertically apart from each other and having also a plurality of Work passages extending transversely of the tower between the gas co1npartn1ents,;each work passage having an opening through thefloor thereof into the gas-compartment therebeneath, a spray de- 1 vice removable through each said opening,

meansinthe work passage forsuspendingthe device within thercompartment therebeneath, and 'meansfor actuating each device independently of the other-devices.

24. Apparatus for treating gases which comprises a-tower having a plurality of in terconnected mi-gas-treating compartments spaced vertically apart' from each other, and having also aplurality of work passages extending transversely of the towerbetween the gas compartments, each work passage having anopening through the floor thereof into the gas-treating compartment F therebeneatln' a spray device removable through each said opening, means in the work passage for .suspending therd'evi'ce within the compartment therebeneath, land means in the work passages for actuatingeach device independently of the other devices.- 1. a

1 25; Apparatus for. treating gases which comprisesatower having a plurality of interconnected gas-treating compartments spaced verticallyapart from each other, and having also; a plu-rality of work passages ex tending transversely of the tower between the gas compartments, each work passage having. an opening through the floorthereof into the gas-treating compartment therebeneath, a spray device removable througheach said opening, and means in the work passages for removing the devices from the compartments.

1 26. Apparatus for treating gases which comprises a tower through which gases may 27,;Apparatus for treating gases which includes a tower having gas treating compartments, work passages extending transverselyof thetower between adjacent gas compartments, independent liquid sprayforming. vunits supported in the passages and each extending into an adjacent gas compartment, .and meansfor actuating the devicesindependentlyof each other, V V

28. Apparatus fortreating gases which includes a tower having gas treatingcompartments, work passages extending transversely of the tower between adjacent gas compartments, and independent spray-forming units supported from the passages, each unit comprising. a spray-forming device extending into and disposedto sprayliquidin a gas compartment, and actuating means for each dQYiQ disposed in the adjacent work passage. 29, Apparatus for treatinggases -which ing units supported from the passages, each unit comprising a spray-forming device extending into a gas compartment, and means disposed in the work passages for supporting the'devices independently of each other.

30. Apparatus for treating gases which includes a tower having gas treating compartments, work passages extending transversely of the tower between adjacent gas compartments, and independent spray-forming units in the compartments, each unit being sup: ported in a work passage independently of posed adjacent thereto, a plurality of work passages each extending transversely of the tower between adjacent compartments and in proximity to the adjacent pumps and bearing means, means in the work passages'for permitting access to the bearing means of the'pump adjacent thereto, and a power shaft each other and actuated independently of each other. 1

31. Apparatus for treating gases. which comprises a tower having a plurality of vertically arranged interconnected gas treating compartments, movable spray forming devices in the compartments, work passages each extending transversely of the tower between adjacent compartments in proximity to the devices therein and having a normally closed opening for access to the device in-one of the adjacent compartments, and means for actuating the spray forming devices.

32. Apparatus for treating gases which comprises a tower having a plurality of vertically arranged interconnected gas treating compartments, rotary spray forming device in the compartments, bearing means operatively associated with and disposed adjacent to each device, work passages each extending transversely of the tower between adjacent compartments and in proximity to the device and bearing means in one of the adjacent compartments, and having a normally closed opening for access to the said bearing means, and means for actuating the-spray forming devices.

33. Apparatus for treating gases which comprises a tower having a plurality of vertically arranged interconnected gas treating compartments, a plurality of rotatable spray forming devices in the compartments, hearing means operatively associated with and disposed adjacent to the said devices, work passages each extending transversely of the tower between adjacent compartmentsand in proximity to the devices therein and their hearing means, the said work passages having means for permitting access therefrom to the adjacent spray. forming devices and their hearing means, and means for rotating the said devices. Y

34; Apparatus-for treating gases which comprises a tower having a plurality of vertically arranged interconnected gas treating ciated with one of the said pumps and dis- 

